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Saratoga Sampler
Elderly exerciser inspired her classmates
By Mary Ann Cook
SENTIMENTAL RETURN: Cindy Teerlink's exercise class at the Saratoga Senior Center recently celebrated the birthday of one of its former regulars, one Esther Stevens. Stevens, now living at the Odd Fellows Home, was an avid participant of the class up until a year ago.
"She was an inspiration to others," Teerlink says. "Sometimes a few would want to give up, but they would look over at Esther kicking high in the air and they'd continue." Stevens' family finally persuaded her to abstain from driving her '86 Chevy just last Christmas.
Did I neglect to mention numbers? The birthday Stevens celebrated was her 104th. (Not a misprint.) "Life is wonderful," she says. "Have fun, and go out and enjoy it."
VIDEO SHMIDEO: This may not sound like an award you'd set your heart on and covet, but it is. And Michael David Jones won it when he graduated recently from UC-Santa Barbara with a double major in business economics and film studies. Video Shmideo is the name of the award given for the best film screenplay.
His film is called "Unscrewed." In a separate ceremony, Jones also was named one of 12 outstanding graduating seniors from the film department. Jones is a Homestead High grad, and he was a camp counselor at the Jewish Community Center in Los Gatos during college summers. He is the son of Larry Jones of Saratoga and Cindy Jones of Sunnyvale.
UPDATE ON BOBFEST: The news from the Bobfest crowd isn't very promising, since the latest report shows that Bob Williams' cancer is spreading. The Bobfest was a fundraiser held last fall to raise money for Williams, who is fighting a rare form of cancer.
His Saratoga High friends--creative sorts all, some of whom are well-known names in the entertainment area--put on a bang-up show at Los Gatos High School. The organizers say Williams appreciates the notes of encouragement he receives but is too weak to answer mail.
"His glowing good spirits and incredible sense of humor endure, as always," reported Lynette Bunyard, one of the organizers of Bobfest, in a letter to a contributor. Said Williams at the conclusion of Bobfest: "No matter what the outcome, I will be triumphant." The address of the Bob Williams Fund is 158 N. 15th Street, San Jose, 95112.
NEW DOCTORS: Michael Paul Janjigian received an M.D. degree from New York University School of Medicine. His internship and residency in internal medicine will be undertaken at Bellevue Hospital, part of NYU. Yelena, his wife of one year, is also an NYU medical student.
The couple hope to eventually return to California to practice medicine. Janjigian is a '93 grad of Saratoga High and is the son of Aram and Florence Janjigian. His undergrad degree was from UC-San Diego.
Another new doctor, Matt Empey, graduated from the UCLA School of Medicine and will now serve an emergency medicine residency at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
Meanwhile, Matt's sister Cara has completed a master's degree in genetics from the University of Hawaii School of Medicine and will begin medical school there this fall. These medically minded souls are the offspring of Linda and Charles Empey. Both are Saratoga High grads.
NEW HOBBY?: Trap and skeet shooting are purportedly two of the newest hobbies being embraced by women for Girls Night Out action. Robin Richardson of Saratoga is one such devotee.
She gets instruction from Otto Bartholdi, range master, at the newly re-opened Santa Clara County Field Sports Park in south San Jose. This sport involving clay pigeons and shotguns should produce some new Annie Oakleys, 21st century style. If the dot-coms keep folding, such skills may be needed to bring home some game for the table.
SCHOLARSHIPS: Blake Howe, Kelly Lapinski and Allison Smith of Saratoga High received scholarships from Immanuel Lutheran Church recently. Other recipients were Megan Shpiel and Lori Sheehan of Westmont and Kellen Harley of Prospect. They are all student members of the congregation.
Howe, who will attend Vassar, received the Shonk Scholarship, the scholarship that began the tradition for the church some 21 years ago. When congregation members Ted and Dan Shonk died in a small plane crash in 1979, Ted's widow established the scholarship to commemorate them.
Lapinski will study at SMU and Smith at UOP. Today the trust fund is supported by other memorials and donations from church members and administered by five trustees who determine the number of scholarships and other outreach programs to be funded for the year.
SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS: The Auxiliary of Community Hospital of Los Gatos awarded $2,000 scholarships to the following: Eric Chen and Jeffrey Lee of Saratoga High; and Nirali Vora and Meggy Wang of Los Gatos High. All these students intend to enter the medical profession.
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Saratoga, California Since 1955
